Hyperspace Drive?

[RCCCL]

I think most of you are missing the Important word in this little bit of sentence

The theoretical engine

In other words this is a theory. They wish to test this theory. And they would like a grant to test this theory.
I see no reason why they couldn't get this grant. Goverments seem to give Research Grants all the time to people with kooky ideas and people who want to prove obvious things like "Doing jumping jacks for 5 hours straight while smoking and drinking is bad for you"

Besides most of what people take for granted as facts about space are still only theories. Just a few days ago I was reading a Scientific America magazine that had a story about a new theory that suggests our universe may actually be only 2 dimensions with the 3rd just being an illusion, kind of like a holligram. It said that this thoery actually cleared up some conflicting data that A 3 demensional universe created.

[ant pant:]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Hmm...It's possible, but I don't think it's probable.

[Renegade 13]

I was kinda wondering that as well, and noticed they didn't address it. If we can get real close to a huge mass, and if that mass is already travelling at a massive velocity and if the theory is correct and if the human body and/or spaceship can withstand the forces, it'll be great!

[Hunpecked]

Depending the mass of the propelling body and the distance of the "payload" from it, the ship/probe may experience tidal stress (see Larry Niven's story "Neutron Star"). Otherwise, if I understand the article correctly, the payload would be in "free fall", only away from the propelling mass rather than toward it.

Depending on propulsion method (e.g. surfing on nuclear detonations), the payload may of course experience considerable "stress" merely catching the relativistic mass in the first place.

It just occurred to me that the article had no suggestions for slowing down at the end of the journey...

[Suicide Junkie]

Lithobraking

[Kamog]

Here's another new development in space travel physics...

This article says a new solution to Einstein's equation could allow us to travel close to the speed of light!

[Wolfman77]

I'm not sure I understand all the article, but I wonder what effect this will have on his theory.

[Hunpecked]

Kamog: "...a new solution to Einstein's equation could allow us to travel close to the speed of light!"

Now all we have to do is find a suitable mass already traveling at 57.7% of the speed of light in the right direction...and figure out how to overtake it!